Being Led

Posted on June 27, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 119:35-37
Lead me in the path of your commands, for that is my delight. Direct my heart toward your decrees and away from unjust gain. Avert my eyes from what is worthless; by your way give me life.

Who is at the center of my existence? Is it me…or is it God? What if we all looked out around us through the lens of God? The truth is that God is at the center of our existence…but we have a choice to surrender our control or not. Will our egos remain in charge…or will we try our best to practice letting go…and letting God? One way to open ourselves to God’s way in our lives is to follow Jesus who said He was “the way, the truth and the life.”

Suggested song of the day—“Lead Me, Lord” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Narrow Path to Freedom

Posted on June 26, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 7:14
“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

Freedom is wonderful…but sometimes it causes us to be shackled in chains. With so many choices it can lead to “egos gone wild.” No amount of power, prestige or possessions will be enough to satisfy. What is it that gives you life? What is it that truly gives you inner joy and peace? What are the many things that you need to say “no” to…so you can say “yes” to the one thing that God wants for you? Listen to God’s voice in your heart…and take that narrow path to freedom. On the road less traveled…you will find God and in the process discover yourself.

Suggested song of the day—“Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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All Is One

Posted on June 25, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 7:1-2
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.”

Jesus tells us that before we notice the “splinter” in our neighbor’s eye…we should attend to the “wooden beam” in our own. I have to laugh at Jesus’ sense of humor while also being amazed at His keen insight. How often do we simply look out at everything in our line of vision and simply judge what’s good and what’s bad, what’s acceptable and what’s not, what’s “in” and what’s “out“? Jesus says we all have more than enough in our eyes to cloud our vision…so we’d best focus our attention on our own self-improvement before focusing on someone else’s. God has made each of us flawed…with areas of brokenness. That isn’t so God can then judge us as “unworthy” but so God can come to our aid and embrace us in our struggles and redeem us. Our broken places are where we truly encounter God’s unconditional love! Those places then become sacred places of transformation. If it weren’t for the broken places in each of us…how would God’s perfect Light shine in?

Suggested song of the day—“May I Be Light” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Matter of the Heart

Posted on June 22, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 6-21
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

What is your “treasure“? Is it found in material things or is it found in spiritual things? There is nothing wrong with material things in themselves…but only in our attachment to them. Jesus said it was hard for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God…because when you have lots of material things…it is very difficult to not be attached to them. The kingdom of God is a state of being when you are in the flow of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. It is the flow of Grace…the inner life of the Trinity. It’s available now to those who choose to be a part of it. Material treasures decay. Treasures of heaven…or the “kingdom of God”…do not. To which are you giving your heart?

Suggested song of the day—“Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Keeping the Divine Connection

Posted on June 21, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 97:7
All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things.

Wow…did that line ever hit me in today’s scripture readings. How long a list could we come up with of “worthless things” that our culture “glories in”? But then I thought…instead of pointing out the speck in our culture’s “eye”…what about the plank in my own eye? What are the things that I “glory in” that at the end of the day…are truly “worthless“? I believe God gives us all kinds of things to enjoy as long as we always remember that God is the giver of those things. We are not meant to “glory in” the things…but in the Giver of the things. A good test for each of us would be to look at any power, prestige or possession that we might have (really any enjoyment) and ask ourselves: Could I simply let go of this…if God asked me to? Is this thing blocking me from my life-giving, Divine Source?

Suggested song of the day—“How Wonderful to Me” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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How to Pray

Posted on June 20, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 6:6
“But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

The instruction Jesus gives us on how to pray is mostly ignored. We’ve mainly been instructed to read written prayers to God. But Jesus Himself told us to instead spend time with God in “your inner room.” In the next verse He tells his followers to “not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” Jesus goes on to say that “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Jesus seems to be telling us to spend some quiet time with God and simply be present to the Divine Presence. Following Jesus is about experiencing the Paschal Mystery in your daily life. It is about experiencing Christ’s “dying and rising”…death leading to new life…in our lives. One way to “die to yourself” is to practice contemplative prayer…sitting in quiet…turning off the noise…letting go of your ego…and to simply “be.” Allow God to commune with you…and you will most assuredly begin to experience new life now.

Suggested song of the day—“Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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The Greatest Challenge

Posted on June 19, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 5:44-45
“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”

How’s this one working for you? Probably not well! It’s one of the hardest teachings of Jesus…so most people conveniently ignore it. While people make stands over other issues (that Jesus never mentioned that we know of) very few seem to embrace this very clear teaching. The only way to approach this is to stop dividing all that we see into what’s “in” and what’s “out“…who is accepted and who is not. Jesus showed us what happens when we throw people out…by becoming the ultimate “outcast” on the cross. We can still stand up for our beliefs and not throw-out or vilify those who disagree. Who rubs you the wrong way? Perhaps it’s time to start praying for that person and asking God to help us do what seems impossible. For with God…all things are possible, right?

Suggested song of the day—“Love God” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Hold On to Hope

Posted on June 18, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 5:2-3
Hear my words, O Lord; listen to my sighing. Hear my cry for help, my king, my God!

Sometimes we are overwhelmed with painful situations. It is part of the human condition. God showed us how intimately He is with us by becoming completely immersed in our pain and suffering by becoming human. Jesus went through all of life’s struggles and sufferings and even endured the most humiliating and unjust death to show us that God is with us! God is hurting with us in our pain…struggling with us in our struggles…and laughing with us in our joy. I think sometimes we feel we are not being a “good Christian” when we cry out to God…or we think we aren’t measuring up. But Jesus Himself cried out to God when struggling with His impending crucifixion. It sometimes appears God is not there as Jesus no doubt felt when he cried out on the cross to God, “Why have you forsaken me?” But God is there feeling our pain…and promising to deliver us to new life. Death did not win at the crucifixion. The resurrection showed us that despite all the pain and suffering…love wins in the end. Trust in Jesus.

Suggested song of the day—“Come to Jesus” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Becoming Whole

Posted on June 8, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 119:166
I look for your salvation, Lord, and I fulfill your commands.

When I think of the word “salvation” I know it’s something that God grants…not something we accomplish. But God calls us to cooperate! Salvation is “wholeness.” God wants nothing more than for each of us to become “whole“…a completed work of art…the unique “me” that God had in mind. As St. Paul says, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). So may you look for your salvation. May you yearn for your wholeness and completion as the unique creation God intended. May you surrender your egocentric desires so that Christ can live more fully in you. For when you die to your “false self“…the paradox is that you discover your “true self“…as Christ grows in you.

Suggested song of the day—“Show Me…Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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The Greatest Commandment

Posted on June 7, 2012 by billtonnis

Mark 12:30-31
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

This was the answer Jesus gave to the religious leader who asked Him which was the first of all the commandments. Jesus said that “love” is the answer. How can one do this? By not judging others but loving them. By not dividing everything we look upon as either “in” or “out” but in accepting all things as being included. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything…but that we can disagree without “casting out.” Jesus showed us what happens when we “cast out” by becoming the one cast-out…and nailed to a cross. Jesus made it quite clear that loving our neighbor includes loving our “enemies” (Matthew 5:44). How quickly we dismiss this! What Jesus wants is for each of us to focus on “loving” better…so that each of us is transformed. For when you love…as Jesus told the religious leader, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

Suggested song of the day—“Love God” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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